The Deputy Managing Director of the Agriculture Development Bank Alhassan Yakubu –Tali has disclosed that the bank is reviewing its credit policy to reduce the time it takes to process loans.

He said the bank is aware of the seemingly long period it takes for loans to be processed and a decision has been taken to do something about it.

Mr. Yakubu-Tali said this at the maiden ADB meet the community forum held in Tamale in the Northern Regional Capital.

The forum was to offer the bank the opportunity to interact with its customers and to know some of the concerns they have.

The Deputy MD opined that once the bank is through with its review they would decentralise the power to grant loans to a particular thresh hold to Zonal heads.

The issue of delays in processing of loans had come up strongly at the forum as many of the contributors expressed concern about the long period of time it takes to approve loans.

But Mr Yakubu-Tali said it would soon be a thing of the pass. He said the ADB was considering it a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

Mr Yakubu-Tali added that the bank is almost done with the credit review and starting from next year the bank would implement the new policy.

This he said, would address the current concerns being raised by the clients.

Another area Mr Yakubu-Tali said the bank would improve upon is its portfolio in the agriculture sector.

He said even though ADB’s portfolio for the agric sector is not bad compared to other banks, it intends to improve upon that area.

He added that once the new credit policy begins it would make it easy for farmers to access loans from the bank, adding that ADB is going to be an agric bank even though they have a universal banking licence.

The Deputy Managing Director noted that the current government’s focus is on the agriculture sector and the ADB would support that cause.

On the ADB meet the community forum, Yakubu-Tali said there was the need for the bank to interact with its customers.

“Like I said if there is no client there is no ADB and it’s imperative we get to know what the clients think about ABD,” he posited.

He added that concerns raised would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for quick redress.